World Beer Cup 2010: And the Winner is…

The World Beer Cup showcases the world's best brewers - here are the champs at this year's event

Here at Beer Blotter, we are very much aware that there are countless online sources for beer news, and that chances are high that if you read us, you probably read others. It is for this reason that we try to create something unique, and we often find it pointless to report on the biggest, most obvious news in beer. You will probably read those stories on beernews.org or something long before we could get around to posting it (since we all have day jobs to keep up with).

But…the World Beer Cup is, in our opinion, the only competition in the world of beer to rivals the Great American Beer Fest (GABF) for supremacy when it comes to that never-ending search for the world’s best beer in 90 style catagories, so here is the skinny, from your favorite botter-ers.

This year, 642 breweries from 44 countries and 47 U.S. states vied for awards with 3,351 beers entered in 90 beer style categories. In the fashion of the Olympics, the entries in each category were vying for gold, silver and bronze medals.

Now my question is, who were the judges and how can I become one? That sounds like the sweetest job on Earth, except for maybe if I was only assigned to style categories 1, 22, 34, 35, 38…you get the idea (if you look below). When PBR and In-Bev are raking in awards in the category, I don’t think the craft breweries are paying much attention to that style.

It is interesting though, on the topic of judges, that 62% of them came from outside the U.S. for this competition. Maybe we are in need of some talent here at home? Start exercising those pallets!

First, the Champion Brewery and Brewer Awards – I couldn’t find any details on how large the large brewery has to be to be considered for that award, but from what I’ve seen through the years, the winners in this category are normally very large, “macro” breweries. The other four awards are huge in the beer industry. Firestone Walker has now won the mid-sized brewery of the year award for the third time. That is a truly remarkable feat. You should not have a single ounce of regret spending your hard earned money on their beer. Everything that they make is good, and the world has recognized that. Many, many respects to the people at Firestone!

Large Brewing Company Category

Asia Pacific Breweries Limited, Singapore

APB Brewing Team

Mid-Size Brewing Company Category

Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles, CA

Matthew Brynildson

Small Brewing Company Category

Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego, CA

Ballast Point Brewers

Large Brewpub Category

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

Iron Hill Brewery Team

Small Brewpub Category

Devils Backbone Brewing Company, Roseland, VA

Jason Oliver

Now onto the individual awards – we have entered in the number of entrants to each category for you. It is interesting to note that Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer had the most entrants (115 entrants, category 17), followed by Herb and Spice or Chocolate Beer (109 entrants, category 6). I wouldn’t have guest that, but it speaks to the intrepid nature of craft brewers in America and beyond. A true testament to why we all have such reverie for the great men and women that are a part of the craft beer movement.

It would be insane of us to not highlight the fact that Redmond, WA’s Black Raven Brewing took home three medals (two gold and one silver)! These guys are still very new and the fact that a local brewery is bringing home the bacon at such a prestigious competition makes us a bid prideful, and that doesn’t seem to happen as much as it should in Washington. It is also worth noting that two of their three medals were in the two largest categories mentioned above. Seattleites, get your ass to Redmond and congratulate them…right now!